

Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Glasses and I are inevitable. I know that one day, I'll see a pair of corrective lenses through a crowded bar and think, Finally. There you are. I've been waiting for you forever. It's only a matter of time. Both my parents have, to be blunt, terrible vision. Since I was a little kid I would put on their glasses, marvel at how smart I suddenly looked, and wear them until I got dizzy and nauseous. I'm actually very excited to one day wear glasses. It means no one will be able to borrow my prescription sunglasses and I'll look chic always.
But here's what I'm not excited about: What in the world will wearing glasses mean for my eye makeup routine? Some of my lens-donning friends have told me how frustrating it is to do a full eye look, only to have it look muted as soon as they put on their glasses. Lately, I've been using blue-light glasses to protect myself from the 3 p.m. headache that comes from staring at a computer screen all day, so I like to think that I can sympathize. To get answers for my friends and my future self (and maybe you!), I turned to Pablo Rodriguez, makeup artist and Director of Artistry at Illamasqua. Below, find out how you can still rock an eye look and wear your glasses.
Pick The Right Frames for Your Look
A great overall style tip: The shape of your glasses shouldn't clash with your style. "When deciding on eye makeup options if you wear glasses, it’s very key to take in consideration the style of frames you are wearing," says Rodriguez. "The eye makeup look should go with the overall look, including hair, lip color and outfit you are wearing."
This means a cool '60s-inspired cat eye might match best with retro glasses than with Harry Potter-esque frames. Plus, depending on the style of glasses you opt for, more or less of your eye will be visible, which will alter your eye look.
Define Your Eyes With Your Makeup
Since glasses can obscure your eyes, it's important to bring back some definition. Daoud recommends eyeliner-focused looks and says, "Keep the eyeshadow subtle and focus on the eyeliner instead. Adding a colored liner in your waterline makes your eyes pop and add a smoking look to your eyeliner adds definition to your eyes.
For Rodriguez, the best way to do this is to cut back on the number of products you use: "Less is definitely more," he says. "Don’t use too many different eyeshadow colors, keep lashes clean and defined, apply eyeliner outside the lash line, not in the rim of the eye." Swap out a volumizing mascara for a lengthening one, and focus on accentuating areas like the crease and lash line to make your natural look just a bit stronger.
If another concern you have is your mascara getting on your lenses, Daoud has a trick for that. "I recommend using an eyelash curler, they not only lift your lashes and open your eyes, but also prevent your lashes from hitting your lenses, and that's key."
Choose Lighter Eye Makeup Shades
If your go-to look is a dark smoky eye, it might be time to try something different. "Glasses tend to create shadows in the eye area," Rodriguez points out. "So you don’t want to make the eyes look darker."
This doesn't mean you can only use colors that match your skin tone. Rather than choosing a navy blue, try a pale blue instead. For more neutral tones, pastels, pinks, and shimmers all work well to brighten the eyes while still giving you some drama under those lenses.
Wearing glasses doesn't mean you can't go wild with eyeshadow! Also, because this is makeup, there are really no hard and fast rules. Personally, I am excited to blind people with my glittery lids from underneath my lenses any day now.
Related story
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Tatjana Freund is a Beauty Commerce Writer, covering makeup, skincare, and haircare products and trends. She's a fan of vodka tonics and creepy Wikipedia pages.
-
The Chicest Makeup Bag Is Coming Your Way
It’s vegan, too.
By Sophia Rivka Vilensky
-
Finally, Vanna White Will Be Paid (at Least Closer to) What She Deserves
The ‘Wheel of Fortune’ cohost finalized a deal to remain on the show until 2026, after not getting a raise in 18 years and being paid five times less than Pat Sajak.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
When They First Began Dating, David and Victoria Beckham Met Up in Parking Lots to Keep Their Budding Romance a Secret
“That’s not as seedy as it sounds,” she said.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
The 20 Best Hair Masks for Damaged Hair, According to Experts and Editors
Healthy strands, here we come!
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
How Often You Should Wash Your Hair, According To Experts
Keep it fresh, my friends.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
The 11 Best Magnetic Lashes of 2023
Go ahead and kiss your messy lash glue goodbye.
By Hana Hong
-
The 30 Best Hair Growth Shampoos of 2023, According to Experts
Rapunzel hair, coming right up.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
The 23 Best Beauty Advent Calendars of 2023
The gift that keeps on giving—literally.
By Julia Marzovilla
-
The 18 Best Natural Hair Products in 2023
Remember: Your curls are your crown.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
The 9 Best Hot Rollers for the Curls of Your Dreams
This is how we roll.
By Samantha Holender
-
The 12 Best Cream Eyeshadows, According to Makeup Artists
The best part? They’re so easy to apply.
By Samantha Holender